TRANSCRIPTS from The Right To Health Webinars - "Country & Community-Led Responses: Creating Sustainable Solutions to a Global Pandemic" hosted by Harvard University

Online Launch of UN Report on Conversion Therapies

Special Rapporteur & Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz: 

More of a political will is needed to address conversion therapy, e.g. visibility of abuse experienced by LGBTQI+ individuals need to be highlighted. In that regard, conversion therapy must be illustrated as a form of violence against LGBTQI persons. Informed consent, free will (e.g. in countries where LGBTQI practices are criminalised, and social exclusion (in some contexts) are noteworthy in the analysis of data.

Conversion therapy practices are dynamic and mutate over time. LGBTQI persons are currently subjected to pathology-ization (viewed as sick), demonization (viewed as simple), and/or criminalization (viewed as antisocial). For example, psychiatric treatment remains a penalty for same sex practices in Dominica; and many African states penalise same-sex relations as criminal offences with imprisonment and in some instances can incur the death penalty.

Unfortunately, there are gaps in the knowledge base for addressing anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination globally; e.g. there is a lot of data from the global North and global West, and some data from other regions, but a significant gap in information from Africa. Moreover, there is significantly less information relating to women and trans people than to gay men even from the global North. Furthermore, there is a need for further disaggregation of equality data, e.g. to highlight intersectionality with age, ethnicity, disability, etc.
 
 
Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Ilze Brans Kehris

It is a matter of dignity. Discriminatory practices should be challenged by and with human rights law. In that regard, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is rooted in the principles of freedom and equality; state parties should ensure LGBTQI+ people have equality in access to human rights. The principle of equality is at the core of the 2030 Agenda, and this cannot be achieved without being inclusive of LGBTQI people. For example, state parties should ban conversion therapy and break historical stigma and exclusion faced by LGBTQI people, through implementation of SDG 3 for health and wellbeing; the 2030 Agenda must be inclusive of LGBTQI people. This requires clear focus on real change for people on the ground, and the promotion of greater respect for LGBTQI people including the UN Free & Equal Campaign.
 
Q & A

1. Conversion therapies are those practices premised on the belief that a person’s sexual or gender identity can or should be changed when they do not conform with what other stakeholders consider to be the norm. In that regard two factors are crucial: a) there is no evidence that interventions can change sexual or gender orientation: b) as there is nothing to cure, these therapies are related to the pathology-ization of sexual and gender orientation, which is being dismantled since 1990.

2. What interventions do the Special Rapporteur propose in relation to abuse and discrimination encountered by African diaspora LGBTQ+ people globally including verbal, psychological, and physical abuse and murder?  More data needs to be collected about Africa, but it is very scarce; civil society in Africa operates self-internalised legal mechanisms under constraints and limitations, but victims may not be aware that practise of conversion therapies are wrong.

With respect to the African diaspora, violence manifests in different communities but in different ways, e.g. immigrants refugee camps, asylum need to be understood in the context of xenophobia. In that regard, experience of privilege or discrimination can be valid or even very concerning. Intersectionality is therefore a key feature of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate.
 

3. Human rights is the business of all of the UN; equality and anti-discrimination is part of the inter-agency approach currently being adopted by the UN. For example, when is the age appropriate consent that can be given in the case of the rights of the child? There are limits to our human rights, but they cannot be used to protect discrimination.

 
 
CONCLUDING REMARKS
 

• Ilse: Discussion needs to be brought out into the light of the pain and consequences of conversion       therapies being caused globally for many people and their families.
• Victor: 1) gratitude to victims who shared stories throughout the conversation, inspiring commitment to change for the better, 2) specific mention made of the Human Rights Program at Harvard University, research assistants there, Office of the High Commissioner fir Human Rights, and others, 3) conversion theory is a serious task wherein coalition thinking is necessary for accountability and a firm commitment to political will.

See OHCHR (2020) Report on conversion therapy. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SexualOrientationGender/Pages/ReportOnConversiontherapy.aspx : UN OHCHR [ 10/07/20]

See alaso TRANSCRIPT FROM HARVARD RIGHT  TO HEALTH WEBINAR 09 05 20

21:18:33 Everyone we've been engaging with
21:18:37 From social movement leaders
21:18:39 NGOS
21:18:47 constituents from around the world
21:18:53 Have an important opportunity to act.
21:19:05 We ahve about a 2 week window to influence the upcoming CARES act.
21:19:16 The first one was a huge bailout and giveaway to large corporations
21:19:25 This next version will likely do the same unless we stand up right now
21:19:35 and demand something different and something better
21:19:41 Sharing call to action in chat
21:19:49 We see 3 sets of acts...
21:20:17 First: Buildling a community care corps that invests in contact tracers that supports low income
21:20:38 We need to be making investments and mobililizing support for low-income
21:20:44 formerly colonized countries
21:20:49 to rebuild and meet the challenge
21:20:52 If we win this.
21:21:03 If we are able to organize a large grassroots movement.
21:21:08 We can save lives and livelihoods
21:21:25 We have an oppotunity to rise up and rebuild a long-gutted infrastructure
21:21:33 And really focus on reparations.
21:21:39 So what now? What would it take?
21:21:52 For us gathered here, there are more than 200 people ready to launch into small groups.
21:22:05 What would it take to have 100 meetings with Members of Congress in next to weeks.
21:22:12 Turning over to Ammu to talk about small groups
21:22:28 As Jon mentioned, in just a moment you will be automatically asked to join breakout sessions in small groups.
21:22:43 A space where we can build relationship with each other, reflect on what we just heard in the incredible panel
21:22:52 but also think about what Jon just said.
21:22:57 How can we take action.
21:23:07 After breakout sessions, we will come back to larger session
21:23:16 You will have facilitator to guide conversations.
21:23:25 We will reconvene at 4:50 to conclude and talk about next steps.
21:51:41 Everyone share one key takeaway that you are coming away with today.
21:51:56 We really need to learn how to improve these kinds of mass gatherings.
21:52:03 We are at a time where we can't rally in person.
21:52:06 This is our rally.
21:52:11 What worked? What are the pluses.
21:52:21 What are the deltas? What could be improved?
21:52:44 Please share these 3 things with us. We have an eval team that is capturing all of this.
21:53:28 MaryAnn: The first objective is to create a Care Corps job program. What are we looking at? This needs to be driven, in part, by people on front lines.
21:53:36 How is that broken down?
21:53:48 We need to know what that looks like instead of leaving in someone else's hands
21:54:10 Jon: These plans have been driven by a coalition of activists that are thinking about how to bring together the global and local in the moment.
21:54:20 The CARES 2 act will pass in the next couple of weeks.
21:54:33 The question is, will it be any good? Especially for communities of color and low income communities.
21:54:42 This campaign is not going to solve all the problems we talked about.
21:54:56 It is one small step we can take right now that will impact how this crisis plays out;.
21:55:10 We can win some big things thought
21:55:38 We need to, and can, help low-income, formerly colonized countries invest in their global health systems.
21:55:55 A couple of next steps and a call to action
21:56:03 First and foremost, please find us online.
21:56:08 Brand new website
21:56:20 Facebook group where you can connect and use as a springboard for organizing efforts and collaborative work
21:56:25 Twitter account as well.
21:56:31 We have 3 specific calls to action.
21:56:42 Feedback from last Web-in was to include.
21:56:52 We see an opportunity to improve and influence CARES act.
21:57:11 If everyone could take a moment to write to your Congress people.
21:57:17 It puts us on radar and gets word out.
21:57:34 Next week, we are hosting THREE "Meet your Member of Congress" trainings.
21:57:38 It's not that scary.
21:57:45 We will coach and support you in taking this action.
21:57:55 Obviously all online, but we are working with a team of folks to help you do this.
21:58:05 This Wed at 7pm, Thurs at 3pm, and Thurs at 9pm EST
21:58:09 Pklease join us in one of those.
21:58:16 Link is in chat to RSVP to one of those 3
21:58:36 We will break it down and make it really easy for everyone to tell their elected officials... people that report to you... that this matters.
21:58:57 Finally, we can continue to grow our sizeable grassroots effort.
21:59:22 Let me just say a word of really deep and sincere thanks. We have no funds. This is just regular ppl coming together to think about how we can make a difference
21:59:27 We need you to stand with us.
21:59:39 We have a moment to actually challenge the forces that would seek to kill many of us.
21:59:47 And start the long process of building a more just and decent world
22:00:04 We hope you will work with us and are deeply grateful for you for taking 2 hours out of a beautiful Saturday.
22:00:13 If you are interested in joining our team. Please message us.
22:00:19 Leave us your feedback!
22:00:22 Thank you!!
 

EXTRACTS FROM THE UN HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM: Cities as bridges between SDGs and citizens in a post-COVID World                                                                                                                                           15 July 2020

Stefano Bonacini, Italy
Collaboration and cooperation in accordance with the 2030 Agenda is required to achieve CMR. 
The populistic approach adopted by some European leaders has led to their communities being the ones that suffer more than others from covid-19 infection and fatality rates.
Environmental sustainability is key where the 2030 Agenda objectives become everyone’s objectives as goals.
A dramatic economic crisis lies ahead of us which will require a lot of public investment; sustainability will have to be at the core of post covid-19 recovery plans.
 
Edwin Mino-Foro Regiones

1. It has been 200 years since the French Revolution; we need to build the concept of citizenship and rights, e.g. as a means for connectivity. We need to think in solidarity to achieve the 17 SDGs, so that no one gets left behind.

2. The Paris Accord and Agenda for climate must be complied with.

3. The Urban Agenda: the old is still dieing off and the new is yet to be born.

 
LRGs need to be at the fore for leadership, e.g. by decentralising by building from local government for accountability and multilevel governance.
 

4. Solidarity is required in the permanent fight for peace.

 
Vasa Gounden – Civil society
The theatre of conflict will move to urban areas in competition for scarce resources. Both the health and economic crises will precipitate a security crisis which will in turn precipitate a humanitarian crisis.
SDGs are meant to deal with root causes, and implementation places the state party as a conducive driver for development and lead player with other stakeholders, to deal with poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Local and national interests are therefore necessary to address global challenges through global responsibility.
 
Carla Rey

1. Need for change: the SDGs are an innovative mechanism that can provide change for all.

2. Value of partnerships: cooperation to “leave no one behind” and multi-level governance; collaboration between academia, public sector, and third sector.

3. Ethical approach to common goods

4. The Social Contract; mutual trust is cardinal between citizens and public  bodies to embrace the social contract.

5. Cities must involve citizens in the principle of reciprocity, e.g. the 2030 Agenda allows citizens to contribute to improving the lives of people throughout the World. Wehave to do it together.

 
Emilia Suiz – Secretary General for Local Government and Cities
Basic service provision by public bodies is linked with SDGs intrinsically.
Global solutions must be based on aspirations and needs of local authorities.
The SDG Framework is a valid framework to address the challenge of building bridges as cities for post covid-19 recovery.
Solidarity is not just about doing the right thing, it is a necessity. Subsidiarity is about thinking local, and acting global when doing things in our local communities.

Harvard Center for African Studies - COVID-19 & Africa Webinar Series: COMBATING RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA DURING COVID- 19 May 26, 2020, by Emmanuel Akyeampong & Alex Taylor.
This document summarizes the conversations from the May 20, 2020, webinar on Combating Racism and Xenophobia during COVID-19.

The full recording for this webinar is available here: https://vimeo.com/420716448 

See also Worth Rises Documentary - (11) Punishment & Profit: Healthcare - YouTube

The Right to Health in a Time of Crisis: What Have We Learned From Covid-19?
International treaties stipulate that every human being is entitled to the highest attainable standard of health—yet Covid-19 has exposed stark gaps between commitment and reality; as the young in wealthy countries wait in line for vaccines, the old in poorer nations have hardly begun to queue. This pandemic has forced us to consider what the status of the right to health is today; how it applies when the whole world is swept by disease at once; and how it can be used to judge the actions of governments and the international community. It has also magnified health’s relationship with wider social factors. Medical infrastructure, state capacity, and social protection policies have all influenced the pandemic. So, what has Covid-19 taught us about the link between the right to health and other human rights? Have our human rights been properly respected during this crisis? And could the international community do more to protect the world’s most vulnerable? During this Critical Conversation, health practitioners and advocates from across the Commonwealth will attempt to chart a better path forward through Covid-19 and beyond. The link to the video is here (1) Facebook

 UNESCO Slave Route Project Report on Healing the Wounds of Slave Trade & Slavery / Lancement de la publication "Guérir les blessures de l'esclavage 
 

The UNESCO Slave Route Project and the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace Research Institute (GHFP) will bring launched the Report:  “Healing the Wounds of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery: Approaches and Practices: A Desk Review.” on 26 May 2021.

"This timely Report draws together the perspectives of researchers and practitioners, to map major approaches and practices to addressing the legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery. It is the fruit of collaboration between an international team of researchers and practitioners, under the guidance of the UNESCO Slave Route Project and the GHFP Research Institute. The Report highlights the imperative to embark on a collective journey towards healing transgenerational trauma and the importance of systemic transformation".

UNESCO-GHFP_2020_Healing-the-Wounds-of-Slavey_Desk-Review_Report.pdf (healingthewoundsofslavery.org)

Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, and Sharif Istvan Horthy, Chairman of the GHFP Research Institute, athe opportunity to announce a broader collaborative project entitled “Educational Transformation and Collective Healing: Addressing the Traumas and Legacy of Slavery”.

This ambitious initiative will nurture youth leadership capacities, providing young people with the skills to implement a racial healing programme aiming to build just communities and initiate policy changes to address structural dehumanisation.

Check out the website: www.healingthewoundsofslavery.org

& join the conversation on Twitter, using #HealingtheWoundsofSlavery

See also www.freedomnarratives.org

Repairs (esclavage-indemnites.fr)

“Treaties and Slavery: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives” (Karthala: 2020).
“Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing” (De Gruy: 2005)
“The Darker Side of Western Modernity: Global Futures, Decolonial Options” (Duke University Press, 2011)
 “On Decoloniality: Concept, Analytics, Praxis”, (Mignolo & Walsh: 2018).
"The Harriet Tubman Series on the African Diaspora”, Africa World Press,  edited by Paul E. Lovejoy, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of History at York University, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Also “The Atlantic and Africa: The Second Slavery and Beyond” (Lovejoy: 2020), “Slavery in the Global Diaspora of Africa” (Lovejoy & Tomich: 2019), and “Slavery, Resistance and Abolitions: A Pluralist Perspective” (Lovejoy, Iye & Schmidt: 2019).

PRESS RELEASE

Education Plus launched in response to alarming rates of HIV among adolescent girls and young women in Africa

Unequal gender power dynamics continue to put women and girls at higher risk of acquiring HIV. Six out of seven new HIV infections among adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years in sub-Saharan Africa are among girls and 4200 adolescent girls and young women between 15 and 24 years became infected with HIV every week in 2020
GENEVA, 6 July 2021—Five United Nations organizations have joined forces to launch a new initiative to ensure that all girls and boys in sub-Saharan Africa have equal access to free secondary education by 2025 and to contribute towards preventing HIV. Education Plus, launched at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris, France, is an ambitious five-year high-level drive to accelerate action and investments to expand access to secondary education for all young people and to advance adolescent girls’ and young women’s health, education and rights in sub-Saharan Africa.
Before COVID-19 struck, around 34 million secondary school-aged girls in sub-Saharan Africa were being denied a full education and an estimated 24% of adolescent girls and young women (15–24 years) in the region were not in education, training or employed, compared to 14.6% of young men. One in four young people in sub-Saharan Africa aged 15–24 years are illiterate and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that in 2020 school closures due to COVID-19 impacted around 250 million students in the region, millions of whom may never return to the classroom.
“We know that keeping girls in secondary school can reduce their risk of HIV infection by a third or more in places where HIV is common. It reduces their risk of child marriage, teenage pregnancy and gender-based and sexual violence and it can provide girls with the important skills and competencies for their economic empowerment,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Bold and consistent political leadership is needed to ensure all children can complete a full round of secondary education in sub-Saharan Africa.”
The co-founders of Education Plus, UNAIDS, UN Women, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF, are urging countries to use education systems as an entry point to provide a holistic “plus” package of essential elements that adolescent girls and young women need as they become adults. These include comprehensive sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, including HIV prevention, freedom from gender-based violence and economic empowerment through school-to-work transitions.
Anita Myriam Emma Kouassi, a young activist from Benin, called on leaders to go beyond promises and act to end inequalities and gender discrimination against girls and young women in Africa. “Inequalities and illiteracy leave girls without the ability to take charge of their lives early on and without control over choices around their own bodies and health. We are thus left vulnerable without knowing how to defend ourselves or make our voices heard,” she said. “This is the reason why we cannot do without girls’ education; it is the bedrock and pillar of a strong nation with and for girls.”
To date, five countries—Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Lesotho and Sierra Leone—have signed on to champion the initiative with a wide range of commitments that will tackle the urgency of effectively addressing the alarming numbers of adolescent girls and young women acquiring HIV and dying from AIDS-related illnesses, among other threats to their survival, well-being, human rights and freedoms, including sexual and gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy.  
“Over the next three years, we will work to intensify awareness of sex education through training and the development of dedicated pedagogical material. We will support pregnant girls and young mothers in the case of early pregnancy. We will provide quality sanitary facilities and promote easy access to sanitary towels in schools,” pledged Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, the Prime Minister of Gabon. “The new Labour Code, which is currently before Parliament, will enrich our legal framework, particularly with regard to harassment in the workplace. Adolescent girls, young women and women as a whole will be even better protected to promote their social and professional development and their empowerment.”
Education has become an urgent concern amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and its socioeconomic impacts, which have increased girls’ and young women’s exposure to gender-based violence, child marriage and unintended pregnancies, increased the risks of maternal mortality and heightened vulnerabilities to acquiring HIV. Girls in sub-Saharan Africa are especially at risk of never returning to school.
David Moinina Sengeh, the Sierra Leone Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, emphasized that countries must make decisions based on evidence and “Stop at nothing to make sure girls, including pregnant girls, are not left out of education,” adding that secondary education should include sexual and reproductive health in educational curricula. “People say it costs money, but it is going to be more expensive to us when we have high illiteracy in the future,” he argued. “It is already expensive to us when we have maternal mortality, it is already expensive to us when we have major parts of our adult population, women, excluded from the economy.”
The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, pledged that the country’s radical new inclusion policy would expand access to previously marginalized populations, including pregnant girls, parent learners, girls from poor backgrounds and those in hard-to-reach areas. “The governmental of Sierra Leone is committed to empowering adolescent girls, promoting and protecting their rights, accelerating progress on gender equality and social inclusion, reducing teenage pregnancy and new HIV infections.”
The initiative places emphasis on ensuring the meaningful participation and leadership of adolescent girls and young women in all their diversity, with attention to ensuring inclusiveness of those in especially excluded and vulnerable situations. Engaging men and boys with a focus on changing harmful gender norms and masculinities, and as allies and agents of change, is a cross-cutting aspect for Education Plus.
In presenting the Prime Minister of Lesotho’s Education Plus commitment, Dira Khama, the Permanent Secretary for Education, pledged that the country would expand secondary education, with a focus on rural areas, strengthen the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education, introduce vocational and technical streams to strengthen school-to-work transitions and work with parents and communities to reduce sexual and gender-based violence against adolescent girls and young women. The Prime Minister also committed, “To review and implement secondary school fees rationalization policy to reduce the amounts of school fees paid by individual households,” within the next six months to a year.
Education Plus will advocate for gender-responsive reforms in policies, laws and practices to guarantee the education, health and other social and economic rights of adolescents and young people. This includes changes in parental consent requirements and eliminating user fees for adolescents to access basic HIV and other sexual and reproductive health services, supporting pregnant adolescents and young mothers to complete their education and tackling gender-based violence, menstrual hygiene management and mental health, among others.
“It is important to look at HIV prevention systematically and not underestimate the special role of mental health when it comes to safe sex practices,” said Shudufhadzo Musida, Miss South Africa 2020. “In order to bring about mental health awareness, HIV prevention, economic empowerment and gender equality, we need to empower the minds of adolescent girls and young women now more than ever.”
Education Plus was launched as a joint commitment to the Generation Equality Forum. At the high-level virtual launch, Ms Byanyima was joined by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, David Moinina Sengeh, the Tunisian diplomat and former African Union Youth Envoy, Aya Chebbi, a representative of the Education Plus Young Women’s leadership hub, Anita Myriam Emma Kouassi, and Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida.

UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

CONTACT

UNAIDS Geneva
Sophie Barton-Knott
tel. +41 79 514 68 96
bartonknotts@unaids.org

UNAIDS Media
tel. +41 22 791 4237
communications@unaids.org

 Read this on our website

Genome Editing is a new and controversial though  powerful technique that has the potential to cure genetic diseases and modify the characteristics of plants and animals, including humans. Access UNESCO's Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (unesco.org) here, and find below UNESCO videos on YouTube introducing genome editing to the general public.

1. What is Genome Editing ?   

Can genome editing cure our diseases or make our babies more intelligent? Can we modify a human embryo? Could genome editing be used to preserve endangered species or to eliminate malaria? What could therefore be the impact of genome edited insects, plants and animals on our ecosystems? Genome editing is a powerful technique that has the potential to cure genetic diseases and modify the characteristics of plants and animals. However, there are many ethical concerns regarding the application of this technique from safety, justice and equity issues to impacts on future generations and the environment. In this series of videos "Ethics of Genome Editing", international experts talk about the technique, its application and the ethical issues of genome editing from different aspects.                                       

L’éthique de l’édition du génome - 1. Qu’est-ce que l’édition du génome ?

L'édition du génome peut-elle guérir nos maladies ou rendre nos bébés plus intelligents ? Peut-on modifier un embryon humain ? L’édition du génome peut-elle être utilisée pour préserver les espèces en voie de disparition ou pour éliminer le paludisme ? Quel pourrait donc être l'impact des insectes, des plantes et des animaux génétiquement modifiés sur nos écosystèmes ? L'édition du génome est une technique puissante qui a le potentiel de guérir les maladies génétiques et de modifier les caractéristiques des plantes et des animaux. Toutefois, l'application de cette technique soulève de nombreuses préoccupations d'ordre éthique, qu'il s'agisse de questions de sécurité, de justice et d'équité ou d'impacts sur les générations futures et sur l'environnement. Dans cette série de vidéos " L'éthique de l'édition du génome ", des experts internationaux évoquent la technique, son application et les questions éthiques de l'édition du génome sous différents aspects. Le premier volet de la série est "1. Qu'est-ce que l'édition du génome ? ". Les sous-titres anglais, français et japonais sont disponibles. D'autres vidéos seront disponible prochainement.

You can view UNESCO's video here https://youtu.be/JEPDGbhA84s

2. Questions on Medical Treatments and the Impact on Future Generations 

Is genome editing for medical treatments already available? What kind of diseases could be cured? How much does it cost? Who can receive such treatments? Is it OK to modify the genomes of future babies? Who should decide and how? The second of the series of Ethics of Genome Editing “

Ethique de l'édition du génome. Traitements médicaux et leurs conséquences pour les générations futures L’édition du génome est-elle déjà disponible comme traitement médical ? Quel type de maladies pourrait être guéri ? Combien coûte-t-elle ? Qui peut recevoir de tels traitements ? Devrait-on modifier le génome de futurs bébés ? Qui devrait décider et comment ? Le deuxième épisode de la série sur l’Ethique de l’édition du génome “

Watch the UNESCO Video here : https://youtu.be/a2wd8jqW5fM
 

3. Impact of Genome editing on plants, animals and environment
Genome editing is a powerful tool. It allows us to modify genes not only to treat human diseases but also to change characteristics of animals and plants within a very short period of time at a much larger scale than any other methods that humans had ever used in the past. A technique called “gene drive” that uses genome editing to spread certain genes in the entire population of a target species could eradicate diseases caused by insects such as malaria and other vector borne diseases. Plants and animals could be more resistant to diseases and grow quicker. But is it safe? What would be the impact on the environment and biodiversity? 

*** L’éthique de l’édition du génome. Conséquences de l’édition du génome pour les plantes, les animaux et l’environnement L’édition du génome est un outil puissant. Il nous permet de modifier des gènes, non seulement pour guérir des maladies humaines, mais aussi pour modifier les caractéristiques d’animaux et de plantes en un très court laps de temps et à une bien plus grande échelle qu’aucune autre méthode humaine utilisée par le passé. Une technique appelée « forçage génétique », qui utilise l’édition du génome pour répandre certains gènes dans la population entière d’une espèce visée, pourrait éradiquer les maladies causées par les insectes, telles que le paludisme ou autres maladies transmises par des vecteurs. Les plantes et les animaux pourraient être plus résistants aux maladies et grandir plus vite. Mais cette technique est-elle sûre ? Quelles seraient les conséquences sur l’environnement et la biodiversité ?

Watch the UNESCO video here  https://youtu.be/YcclJ840dIs
 
4. Engaging the Public

The decision that may affect all our lives, the ecosystem, and the future generations is too important to be left only in the hands of scientists and policy makers. How can each member of society get involved in current science and policy debates on genome editing? How can policy makers and scientists foster multicultural and cross-disciplinary discussions to form the basis of effective public engagement? UNESCO is happy to present the fourth of the series of ’Ethics of Genome Editing “4. Engaging the Public”’ which is available in English, French, Japanese and other language subtitles.

See also: on.unesco.org/est

Éthique de l'édition du génome « 4.　Mobiliser le public » Guérir les maladies génétiques et modifier l'environnement à l'aide de la technologie d'édition du génome ne relève plus de la science-fiction. Des essais cliniques pour traiter certaines maladies génétiques sont en cours et la recherche sur les modifications génétiques susceptibles d'affecter la biodiversité progresse. La décision qui peut avoir un impact sur nos vies, sur l'écosystème et sur les générations futures est trop importante pour être laissée uniquement entre les mains des scientifiques et des décideurs politiques. Comment chaque membre de la société peut-il s'impliquer dans les débats scientifiques et politiques actuels sur l'édition du génome ? Comment les décideurs politiques et les scientifiques peuvent-ils encourager les discussions multiculturelles et interdisciplinaires pour former la base de toute mobilisation efficace du public ? L'UNESCO est heureuse de présenter le quatrième volet de la série ‘Éthique de l'édition du génome « 4. Mobiliser le public »’ qui est disponible en anglais, et sous-titré en français, japonais et dans d'autres langues.

Voir aussi : on.unesco.org/est

Watch UNESCO's video here https://youtu.be/YwTNKLz2QdU
 
Third UNESCO Roundtable on the Ethics of Genome Editing: Voices from Society

(English version) https://youtu.be/-hG7cvPd3Xc

 Since the 1970s, the field of bioethics has grown considerably. While it is true that bioethics today includes medical ethics issues, its originality lies in the fact that it goes much further than the various professional codes of ethics concerned. It entails reflection on societal changes and even on global balances brought about by scientific and technological developments. To the already difficult question posed by life sciences – How far can we go? – other queries must be added concerning the relationship between ethics, science and freedom.